Respondeo dicendum quod, sicut supra dictum est, in capite naturali tria inveniuntur, scilicet ordo, perfectio et virtus influendi. Quantum ergo ad ordinem temporis, non dicitur esse Antichristus caput malorum, quasi eius peccatum praecesserit, sicut praecessit peccatum Diaboli. Similiter etiam non dicitur esse malorum caput propter virtutem influendi. Si enim aliquos sui temporis ad malum sit conversurus, exterius inducendo; non tamen illi qui ante eum fuerunt, ab ipso sunt in malitiam inducti, nec eius malitiam sunt imitati. Unde secundum hoc non posset dici caput omnium malorum, sed aliquorum. Relinquitur igitur quod dicatur caput omnium malorum propter malitiae perfectionem. Unde super illud II Thess. II, ostendens se tanquam sit Deus, dicit Glossa, sicut in Christo omnis plenitudo divinitatis inhabitavit, ita in Antichristo plenitudo omnis malitiae, non quidem ita quod humanitas eius sit assumpta a Diabolo in unitate personae, sicut humanitas Christi a filio Dei; sed quia Diabolus malitiam suam eminentius ei influit suggerendo quam omnibus aliis. Et secundum hoc, omnes alii mali qui praecesserunt sunt quasi quaedam figura Antichristi, secundum illud II Thess. II, mysterium iam operatur iniquitatis. I answer that, As was said above (A. 1), in the head are found three things: order, perfection, and the power of influencing. But as regards the order of the body, Antichrist is not said to be the head of the wicked as if his sin had preceded, as the sin of the devil preceded. So likewise he is not called the head of the wicked from the power of influencing, although he will pervert some in his day by exterior persuasion; nevertheless those who were before him were not beguiled into wickedness by him nor have imitated his wickedness. Hence he cannot be called the head of all the wicked in this way, but of some. Therefore it remains to be said that he is the head of all the wicked by reason of the perfection of his wickedness. Hence, on 2 Thess. 2:4, Showing himself as if he were God, a gloss says: As in Christ dwelt the fullness of the Godhead, so in Antichrist the fullness of all wickedness. Not indeed as if his humanity were assumed by the devil into unity of person, as the humanity of Christ by the Son of God; but that the devil by suggestion infuses his wickedness more copiously into him than into all others. And in this way all the wicked who have gone before are signs of Antichrist, according to 2 Thess. 2:7, For the mystery of iniquity already worketh. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod Diabolus et Antichristus non sunt duo capita, sed unum, quia Antichristus dicitur esse caput inquantum plenissime invenitur in eo impressa malitia Diaboli. Unde super illud II Thess. II, ostendens se tanquam sit Deus, dicit Glossa, in ipso erit caput omnium malorum, scilicet Diabolus, qui est rex super omnes filios superbiae. Non autem dicitur in eo esse per unionem personalem; nec per intrinsecam habitationem, quia sola Trinitas menti illabitur, ut dicitur in libro de ecclesiasticis dogmatibus, sed per malitiae effectum. Reply Obj. 1: The devil and Antichrist are not two heads, but one; since Antichrist is called the head, inasmuch as the wickedness of the devil is most fully impressed on him. Hence, on 2 Thess. 2:4, Showing himself as if he were God, a gloss says: The head of all the wicked, namely the devil, who is king over all the children of pride will be in him. Now he is said to be in him not by personal union, nor by indwelling, since the Trinity alone dwells in the mind (as is said De Eccles. Dogm. lxxxiii), but by the effect of wickedness. Ad secundum dicendum quod, sicut caput Christi est Deus, et tamen ipse est caput Ecclesiae, ut supra dictum est; ita Antichristus est membrum Diaboli, et tamen ipse est caput malorum. Reply Obj. 2: As the head of Christ is God, and yet He is the Head of the Church, as was said above (A. 1, ad 2), so likewise Antichrist is a member of the devil and yet is head of the wicked. Ad tertium dicendum quod Antichristus non dicitur caput omnium malorum propter similitudinem influentiae, sed propter similitudinem perfectionis. In eo enim Diabolus quasi malitiam suam ducet ad caput, per modum quo dicitur aliquis ad caput propositum suum ducere, cum illud perfecerit. Reply Obj. 3: Antichrist is said to be the head of all the wicked not by a likeness of influence, but by a likeness of perfection. For in him the devil, as it were, brings his wickedness to a head, in the same way that anyone is said to bring his purpose to a head when he executes it. Quaestio 9 Question 9 De scientia Christi in generali Christ’s Knowledge in General Deinde considerandum est de scientia Christi. Circa quam duo consideranda sunt, primo, quam scientiam Christus habuerit; secundo, de unaquaque scientiarum ipsius. We must now consider Christ’s knowledge; concerning which the consideration will be twofold. First, of Christ’s knowledge in general; second, of each particular kind of knowledge He had. Circa primum quaeruntur quatuor. Under the first head there are four points of inquiry: Primo, utrum Christus habuerit aliquam scientiam praeter divinam. (1) Whether Christ had any knowledge besides the Divine? Secundo, utrum habuerit scientiam quam habent beati vel comprehensores. (2) Whether He had the knowledge which the blessed or comprehensors have? Tertio, utrum habuerit scientiam inditam vel infusam. (3) Whether He had an imprinted or infused knowledge? Quarto, utrum habuerit aliquam scientiam acquisitam. (4) Whether He had any acquired knowledge? Articulus 1 Article 1 Utrum in Christo fuerit aliqua scientia praeter divinam Whether Christ had any knowledge besides the Divine? Ad primum sic proceditur. Videtur quod in Christo non fuerit aliqua scientia praeter divinam. Ad hoc enim necessaria est scientia ut per eam aliqua cognoscantur. Sed Christus per scientiam divinam cognoscebat omnia. Superfluum igitur fuisset quod in eo esset quaedam alia scientia. Objection 1: It would seem that in Christ there was no knowledge except the Divine. For knowledge is necessary that things may be known thereby. But by His Divine knowledge Christ knew all things. Therefore any other knowledge would have been superfluous in Him. Praeterea, lux minor per maiorem offuscatur. Sed omnis scientia creata comparatur ad scientiam Dei increatam sicut lux minor ad maiorem. Ergo in Christo non refulsit alia scientia quam divina. Obj. 2: Further, the lesser light is dimmed by the greater. But all created knowledge in comparison with the uncreated knowledge of God is as the lesser to the greater light. Therefore there shone in Christ no other knowledge except the Divine. Praeterea, unio humanae naturae ad divinam facta est in persona, ut ex supra dictis patet. Ponitur autem in Christo, secundum quosdam, quaedam scientia unionis, per quam scilicet Christus ea quae ad mysterium incarnationis pertinent plenius scivit quam aliquis alius. Cum ergo unio personalis contineat duas naturas, videtur quod in Christo non sint duae scientiae, sed una tantum scientia pertinens ad utramque naturam. Obj. 3: Further, the union of the human nature with the Divine took place in the Person, as is clear from Q. 2, A. 2. Now, according to some there is in Christ a certain knowledge of the union, whereby Christ knew what belongs to the mystery of the Incarnation more fully than anyone else. Hence, since the personal union contains two natures, it would seem that there are not two knowledges in Christ, but one only, pertaining to both natures. Sed contra est quod Ambrosius dicit, in libro de incarnatione, Deus in carne perfectionem humanae naturae assumpsit, suscepit sensum hominis, sed non sensum carnis inflatum. Sed ad sensum hominis pertinet scientia creata. Ergo in eo fuit alia scientia praeter divinam. On the contrary, Ambrose says (De Incarnat. vii): God assumed the perfection of human nature in the flesh; He took upon Himself the sense of man, but not the swollen sense of the flesh. But created knowledge pertains to the sense of man. Therefore in Christ there was created knowledge. Respondeo dicendum quod, sicut ex supra dictis patet, filius Dei humanam naturam integram assumpsit, idest, non corpus solum, sed etiam animam; non solum sensitivam, sed etiam rationalem. Et ideo oportuit quod haberet scientiam creatam, propter tria. Primo quidem, propter animae perfectionem. Anima enim, secundum se considerata, est in potentia ad intelligibilia cognoscenda, est enim sicut tabula in qua nihil est scriptum; et tamen possibile est in ea scribi, propter intellectum possibilem, in quo est omnia fieri, ut dicitur in III de anima. Quod autem est in potentia, est imperfectum nisi reducatur ad actum. Non autem fuit conveniens ut filius Dei humanam naturam imperfectam assumeret, sed perfectam, utpote qua mediante, totum humanum genus erat ad perfectum reducendum. Et ideo oportuit quod anima Christi esset perfecta per aliquam scientiam, quae esset proprie perfectio eius. Et ideo oportuit in Christo esse aliquam scientiam praeter scientiam divinam. Alioquin anima Christi esset imperfectior omnibus animabus aliorum hominum. Secundo quia, cum quaelibet res sit propter suam operationem, ut dicitur in II de caelo et mundo, frustra haberet Christus animam intellectualem, si non intelligeret secundum illam. Quod pertinet ad scientiam creatam. Tertio, quia aliqua scientia creata pertinet ad animae humanae naturam, scilicet illa per quam naturaliter cognoscimus prima principia, scientiam enim hic large accipimus pro qualibet cognitione intellectus humani. Nihil autem naturalium Christo defuit, quia totam humanam naturam suscepit, ut supra dictum est. Et ideo in sexta synodo damnata est positio negantium in Christo duas esse scientias, vel duas sapientias. I answer that, As said above (Q. 5), the Son of God assumed an entire human nature, i.e., not only a body, but also a soul, and not only a sensitive, but also a rational soul. And therefore it behooved Him to have created knowledge, for three reasons. First, on account of the soul’s perfection. For the soul, considered in itself, is in potentiality to knowing intelligible things; since it is like a tablet on which nothing is written, and yet it may be written upon through the potential intellect, whereby it may become all things, as is said De Anima iii, 18. Now what is in potentiality is imperfect unless reduced to act. But it was fitting that the Son of God should assume, not an imperfect, but a perfect human nature, since the whole human race was to be brought back to perfection by its means. Hence it behooved the soul of Christ to be perfected by a knowledge, which would be its proper perfection. And therefore it was necessary that there should be another knowledge in Christ besides the Divine knowledge, otherwise the soul of Christ would have been more imperfect than the souls of the rest of men. Second, because, since everything is on account of its operation, as stated De Coelo ii, 17, Christ would have had an intellective soul to no purpose if He had not understood by it; and this pertains to created knowledge. Third, because some created knowledge pertains to the nature of the human soul, viz. that whereby we naturally know first principles; since we are here taking knowledge for any cognition of the human intellect. Now nothing natural was wanting to Christ, since He took the whole human nature, as stated above (Q. 5). And hence the Sixth Council condemned the opinion of those who denied that in Christ there are two knowledges or wisdoms. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod Christus cognovit omnia per scientiam divinam operatione increata, quae est ipsa Dei essentia, Dei enim intelligere est sua substantia, ut probatur in XII Metaphys. Unde hic actus non potuit esse animae humanae Christi, cum sit alterius naturae. Si igitur non fuisset in anima Christi alia scientia praeter divinam, nihil cognovisset. Et ita frustra fuisset assumpta, cum res sit propter suam operationem. Reply Obj. 1: Christ knew all things with the Divine knowledge by an uncreated operation which is the very Essence of God; since God’s understanding is His substance, as the Philosopher proves (Metaph. xii, text. 39). Hence this act could not belong to the human soul of Christ, seeing that it belongs to another nature. Therefore, if there had been no other knowledge in the soul of Christ, it would have known nothing; and thus it would have been assumed to no purpose, since everything is on account of its operation. Ad secundum dicendum quod, si duo lumina accipiantur eiusdem ordinis, minus offuscatur per maius, sicut lumen solis offuscat lumen candelae, quorum utrumque accipitur in ordine illuminantis. Sed si accipiatur maius in ordine illuminantis et minus in ordine illuminati, minus lumen non offuscatur per maius, sed magis augetur, sicut lumen aeris per lumen solis. Et hoc modo lumen scientiae non offuscatur, sed clarescit in anima Christi per lumen scientiae divinae, quae est lux vera illuminans omnem hominem venientem in hunc mundum, ut dicitur Ioan. I. Reply Obj. 2: If the two lights are supposed to be in the same order, the lesser is dimmed by the greater, as the light of the sun dims the light of a candle, both being in the class of illuminants. But if we suppose two lights, one of which is in the class of illuminants and the other in the class of the illuminated, the lesser light is not dimmed by the greater, but rather is strengthened, as the light of the air by the light of the sun. And in this manner the light of knowledge is not dimmed, but rather is heightened in the soul of Christ by the light of the Divine knowledge, which is the true light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world, as is written John 1:9. Ad tertium dicendum quod, ex parte unitorum, ponitur scientia in Christo et quantum ad naturam divinam et quantum ad humanam, ita quod per unionem, secundum quam est eadem hypostasis Dei et hominis, id quod est Dei attribuitur homini, et id quod est hominis attribuitur Deo, ut supra dictum est. Sed ex parte ipsius unionis non potest poni in Christo aliqua scientia. Nam unio illa est ad esse personale, scientia autem non convenit personae nisi ratione alicuius naturae. Reply Obj. 3: On the part of what are united we hold there is a knowledge in Christ, both as to His Divine and as to His human nature; so that, by reason of the union whereby there is one hypostasis of God and man, the things of God are attributed to man, and the things of man are attributed to God, as was said above (Q. 3, AA. 1, 6). But on the part of the union itself we cannot admit any knowledge in Christ. For this union is in personal being, and knowledge belongs to person only by reason of a nature. Articulus 2 Article 2 Utrum in Christo fuerit scientia beatorum vel comprehensorum Whether Christ had the knowledge which the blessed or comprehensors have? Ad secundum sic proceditur. Videtur quod in Christo non fuerit scientia beatorum vel comprehensorum. Scientia enim beatorum est per participationem divini luminis, secundum illud Psalmi, in lumine tuo videbimus lumen. Sed Christus non habuit lumen divinum tanquam participatum, sed ipsam divinitatem in se habuit substantialiter manentem, secundum illud Coloss. II, in ipso habitat omnis plenitudo divinitatis corporaliter. Ergo in ipso non fuit scientia beatorum. Objection 1: It would seem that in Christ there was not the knowledge of the blessed or comprehensors. For the knowledge of the blessed is a participation of Divine light, according to Ps. 35:10: In Thy light we shall see light. Now Christ had not a participated light, but He had the Godhead Itself substantially abiding in Him, according to Col. 2:9: For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead corporeally. Therefore in Christ there was not the knowledge of the blessed. Praeterea, scientia beatorum eos beatos facit, secundum illud Ioan. XVII, haec est vita aeterna, ut cognoscant te, verum Deum, et quem misisti, Iesum Christum. Sed homo ille fuit beatus ex hoc ipso quod fuit Deo unitus in persona, secundum illud Psalmi, beatus quem elegisti et assumpsisti. Non ergo oportet ponere in ipso scientiam beatorum. Obj. 2: Further, the knowledge of the blessed makes them blessed, according to John 17:3: This is eternal life: that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ Whom Thou hast sent. But this Man was blessed through being united to God in person, according to Ps. 64:5: Blessed is He Whom Thou hast chosen and taken to Thee. Therefore it is not necessary to suppose the knowledge of the blessed in Him. Praeterea, duplex scientia homini competit, una secundum suam naturam; alia supra suam naturam. Scientia autem beatorum, quae in divina visione consistit, non est secundum naturam hominis, sed supra eius naturam. In Christo autem fuit alia supernaturalis scientia multo fortior et altior, scilicet scientia divina. Non igitur oportuit in Christo esse scientiam beatorum. Obj. 3: Further, to man belongs a double knowledge—one by nature, one above nature. Now the knowledge of the blessed, which consists in the vision of God, is not natural to man, but above his nature. But in Christ there was another and much higher supernatural knowledge, i.e., the Divine knowledge. Therefore there was no need of the knowledge of the blessed in Christ. Sed contra, scientia beatorum in Dei visione vel cognitione consistit. Sed ipse plene cognovit Deum, etiam secundum quod homo, secundum illud Ioan. VIII, scio eum, et sermonem eius servo. Ergo in Christo fuit scientia beatorum. On the contrary, The knowledge of the blessed consists in the knowledge of God. But He knew God fully, even as He was man, according to John 8:55: I do know Him, and do keep His word. Therefore in Christ there was the knowledge of the blessed. Respondeo dicendum quod illud quod est in potentia, reducitur in actum per id quod est actu, oportet enim esse calidum id per quod alia calefiunt. Homo autem est in potentia ad scientiam beatorum, quae in visione Dei consistit, et ad eam ordinatur sicut ad finem, est enim creatura rationalis capax illius beatae cognitionis, inquantum est ad imaginem Dei. Ad hunc autem finem beatitudinis homines reducuntur per Christi humanitatem, secundum illud Heb. II, decebat eum propter quem omnia et per quem omnia, qui multos filios in gloriam adduxerat, auctorem salutis eorum per passionem consummari. Et ideo oportuit quod cognitio ipsa in Dei visione consistens excellentissime Christo homini conveniret, quia semper causam oportet esse potiorem causato. I answer that, What is in potentiality is reduced to act by what is in act; for that whereby things are heated must itself be hot. Now man is in potentiality to the knowledge of the blessed, which consists in the vision of God; and is ordained to it as to an end; since the rational creature is capable of that blessed knowledge, inasmuch as he is made in the image of God. Now men are brought to this end of beatitude by the humanity of Christ, according to Heb. 2:10: For it became Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, Who had brought many children unto glory, to perfect the author of their salvation by His passion. And hence it was necessary that the beatific knowledge, which consists in the vision of God, should belong to Christ pre-eminently, since the cause ought always to be more efficacious than the effect. Ad primum ergo dicendum quod divinitas unita est humanitati Christi secundum personam, et non secundum naturam vel essentiam, sed cum unitate personae remanet distinctio naturarum. Et ideo anima Christi, quae est pars humanae naturae, per aliquod lumen participatum a natura divina perfecta est ad scientiam beatam, qua Deus per essentiam videtur. Reply Obj. 1: The Godhead is united to the manhood of Christ in Person, not in essence or nature; yet with the unity of Person remains the distinction of natures. And therefore the soul of Christ, which is a part of human nature, through a light participated from the Divine Nature, is perfected with the beatific knowledge whereby it sees God in essence. Ad secundum dicendum quod ex ipsa unione homo ille est beatus beatitudine increata, sicut ex unione est Deus. Sed praeter beatitudinem increatam, oportuit in natura humana Christi esse quandam beatitudinem creatam, per quam anima eius in ultimo fine humanae naturae constitueretur. Reply Obj. 2: By the union this Man is blessed with the uncreated beatitude, even as by the union He is God; yet besides the uncreated beatitude it was necessary that there should be in the human nature of Christ a created beatitude, whereby His soul was established in the last end of human nature. Ad tertium dicendum quod visio seu scientia beata est quodammodo supra naturam animae rationalis, inquantum scilicet propria virtute ad eam pervenire non potest. Alio vero modo est secundum naturam ipsius, inquantum scilicet per naturam suam est capax eius, prout scilicet ad imaginem Dei facta est, ut supra dictum est. Sed scientia increata est omnibus modis supra naturam animae humanae. Reply Obj. 3: The beatific vision and knowledge are to some extent above the nature of the rational soul, inasmuch as it cannot reach it of its own strength; but in another way it is in accordance with its nature, inasmuch as it is capable of it by nature, having been made to the likeness of God, as stated above. But the uncreated knowledge is in every way above the nature of the human soul. Articulus 3 Article 3 Utrum in Christo sit alia scientia indita, praeter scientiam beatam Whether Christ had an infused knowledge, besides beatific knowledge? Ad tertium sic proceditur. Videtur quod in Christo non sit alia scientia indita, praeter scientiam beatam. Omnis enim alia scientia creata comparatur ad scientiam beatam sicut imperfectum ad perfectum. Sed, praesente perfecta cognitione, excluditur cognitio imperfecta, sicut manifesta visio faciei excludit aenigmaticam visionem fidei ut patet I Cor. XIII. Cum igitur in Christo fuerit scientia beata, ut dictum est, videtur quod non potuerit in eo alia esse scientia indita. Objection 1: It would seem that there was not in Christ another infused knowledge besides the beatific knowledge. For all other knowledge compared to the beatific knowledge is like imperfect to perfect. But imperfect knowledge is removed by the presence of perfect knowledge, as the clear face-to-face vision removes the enigmatical vision of faith, as is plain from 1 Cor. 13:10, 12. Since, therefore, in Christ there was the beatific knowledge, as stated above (A. 2), it would seem that there could not be any other imprinted knowledge. Praeterea, imperfectior modus cognitionis disponit ad perfectiorem sicut opinio, quae est per syllogismum dialecticum, disponit ad scientiam, quae est per syllogismum demonstrativum. Habita autem perfectione, non est ulterius necessaria dispositio, sicut, habito termino, non est necessarius motus. Cum igitur cognitio quaecumque alia creata comparetur ad cognitionem beatam sicut imperfectum ad perfectum, et sicut dispositio ad terminum, videtur quod, cum Christus habuerit cognitionem beatam, quod non fuerit ei necessarium habere aliam cognitionem. Obj. 2: Further, an imperfect mode of cognition disposes towards a more perfect, as opinion, the result of dialectical syllogisms, disposes towards science, which results from demonstrative syllogisms. Now, when perfection is reached, there is no further need of the disposition, even as on reaching the end motion is no longer necessary. Hence, since every created cognition is compared to beatific cognition, as imperfect to perfect and as disposition to its term, it seems that since Christ had beatific knowledge, it was not necessary for Him to have any other knowledge.